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ABUJA, April 23 (Reuters) - President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Monday elections held over the past week in Nigeria could not be considered perfect but appealed to Nigerians to keep faith with democracy.

European Union observers said the elections failed to meet basic international standards and could not be considered credible, and the opposition has called for cancellation of the poll.

"Our elections could not have been said to have been perfect," Obasanjo said in a nationwide address, citing logistical failures, violence, ballot box snatching and fraud.

He accused "some political leaders" of fomenting violence and employing thugs to achieve victory, but said Nigerians had shown faith in democracy.

"Nothing should be done to make our people lose faith in the electoral process and its democratic outcome," he said.

The former military ruler said results issued so far -- which point to a landslide victory for his ruling People's Democratic Party -- did not deviate from projections.#

He appealed to any aggrieved parties to use legal avenues to seek redress over the next five weeks until the handover of power on May 29.

"My hope is that by the time the election tribunals and appellate courts complete the review of the cases before them, Nigerians will reconcile with one another and the nation will move on," he said.

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